“This lotion is absolutely lovely. Would you consider selling the recipe and production rights to the Magnolian Empire?”
In the very court where nobles from all across the empire gathered, Kris had waited patiently for the empress to open her mouth, and what came out left the elf speechless. A storm of panic began brewing within her chest. All the nervousness and excitement Kris had initially felt morphed into fear and regret.
Remind me again—who is it that said Their Imperial Majesties are normal and reasonable people?! Kris thought as she shot Reiner a resentful glare.
Reiner perhaps had noticed this, but he neither said anything nor looked Kris’s way. The elven merchant began to wonder if she was allowed to get upset...and how they’d ended up in this situation in the first place.
✦ ✦ ✦
The visitors were led out of the drawing room and into the audience chamber, where Magnolian nobles had been gathered. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly intimidating, but Reiner seemed completely unbothered, which was his default demeanor. The margrave walked forward until he was standing in front of the empty thrones and knelt.
Kris followed his example and walked up to the thrones before kneeling. She was nervous, so her movements were perhaps a bit awkward. This was the first time she had ever been in the presence of such devastating intimidation, and for some strange reason, it was exhilarating. The elf reflexively clenched her fist with a new sense of confidence.
Emma had also followed suit, but what stood out about her the most was that all the color had drained from her face. She had no idea how long she’d been kneeling for—even a short moment felt like eternity in this chamber.
From behind the group of visitors, a soldier called out, “Their Imperial Majesties have arrived!” His voice was followed by two sets of footsteps.
“Oh no, did we make you wait? My apologies,” a gallant voice said as heavy footsteps passed the group and headed for the thrones.
The second set of footsteps was much lighter and more rhythmic. After the two figures reached the thrones, they sat down with a respective thud and rustle. If the tension in the air had been fabric, it would have been pulled even more taut at this moment.
“Well met, everyone,” the emperor greeted them. “At ease.”
“It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Imperial Majesties,” Reiner immediately responded.
Since she’d simply been told to be “at ease,” Kris lifted her head but remained kneeling.
“Thank you for always traveling so far to be here,” the emperor replied. “Well then, why don’t you go ahead and introduce your guest to us?”
“Of course. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kristie, the representative of the Kristie Trading Company, which operates within my home mark, Valdia. I have brought her with me today to present products that were made through the collaborative efforts of the Valdias and the Kristie Trading Company. I humbly request that she be allowed to speak, Your Majesty.”
“Very well, she may speak,” the emperor said. “Kristie, is it? Raise your head.”
Now that she’d received orders to do so, Kris finally looked up. The emperor sported golden-blond hair that was similar to her own, and his light-blue eyes stared at her with a powerful, dauntless gaze. The empress had pale-pink hair, and her adorable eyes were also pink. She maintained a smile and gave the impression of a very kind person. Several months ago, Kris would have never imagined greeting Their Imperial Majesties up close.
I’ve finally made it, Kris thought. The corners of her eyes grew hot as she began to feel tears forming.
“Hm? Is something the matter? Are you too nervous to speak?”
“N-Not at all,” Kris responded. “My apologies, Your Imperial Majesties. I never would have dreamed that a mere merchant such as me would have the honor of greeting Your Majesties like this, and I was overcome with emotion. I would like to formally introduce myself. I am Kristie Saffron, the daughter of Baron Martin Saffron from the Kingdom of Astoria. I currently reside in the mark of Margrave Valdia, where I operate the Kristie Trading Company. It is a pleasure to be in your presence, Your Imperial Majesties.”
Upon hearing her introduction, the emperor appeared surprised for a moment, then quickly returned to his original countenance.
“I’d heard you were previously with the Saffron Trading Company, but I had no idea that your father was ennobled.”
“My father was only bestowed a peerage very recently,” Kris explained. “It is no surprise that you were not made aware, Your Majesty. Additionally, the Saffron Trading Company hasn’t spread the news of my father’s ennoblement beyond Astoria.”
“I see. However, if you are a lady of the nobility, it is possible that we made some mistakes in how we received you.” A mean-spirited and knowing smile spread over the emperor’s face, and he glanced at Roland for just a moment.
The count took notice of the emperor’s gaze and turned bright red. Even his ears were flushed. Roland had thought that Kris was just some lowly merchant, but she’d actually been a member of another kingdom’s nobility. His behavior toward her could have caused an issue between their two countries, but as long as Kris didn’t pursue the matter, Roland would be safe. In a sense, Kris now had a card to play against the count.
Reiner had been aware of Kris’s status, but he’d thought that it could be used as a weapon, so he’d kept it to himself. That was also why he’d waited as long as possible before stepping into Roland’s and Kris’s conversation.
The empress had been sitting silently until then, and the air around her began to feel dark. “I believe that is enough, Your Majesty,” she chimed in. “I would rather see these new products already.”
“Of course!” the emperor replied. “That is indeed the purpose of this meeting. Please proceed with your presentation, Lady Kristie.”
The emperor seemed flustered by the empress’s words as he urged Kris to start her presentation. The interaction gave Kris the sense that wives were a force to be reckoned with even across borders.
“As you wish,” she replied and began her presentation.
The men in the chamber, including the emperor, had a tepid reaction to the products. In contrast, the empress, her lady-in-waiting, and the maids who’d been standing by were listening intently. They were hanging on Kris’s every word, and soon enough, every woman in the chamber had a look of awe on her face.
“The thought of having a beauty tool to heal skin that has been damaged by makeup is something that had escaped my notice,” the empress said. “You have my utmost admiration for not only coming up with such a concept but for also creating these products.”
“Thank you very much, Your Majesty,” Kris replied. “I would also like to mention that I use both the lotion and conditioner myself. I am confident that it will make Your Majesty’s hair even more beautiful than it already is.”
The empress visibly reacted to Kris’s comment that she used the products herself, and she began staring at the elf’s hair. “Would it be all right if I touched your hair?” she asked.
“Yes, of course,” Kris replied. Her hair had indeed become much smoother and more lustrous once she’d begun using the conditioner. She hadn’t noticed it herself, but some of her gestures would call attention to just how silky it was, which led to moments of increased allure. When Sir Reid had pointed it out to her, she’d gotten quite flustered for someone her age.
“Your hair is lovely,” the empress remarked. “I’ve never seen such smooth and shiny hair before. I don’t know if a man would be able to see the true value of this product.”
“Would Your Majesty be interested in trying the lotion?” Kris asked.
“Yes, I would love to.”
As Kris had expected, the empress enthusiastically agreed to try the product out, but Roland decided to interrupt.
“Your Majesty, please excuse my interruption, but I believe that from a safety standpoint, you may be putting yourself at risk by trying the product.”
There was a loud crack, and it sounded as if something had been stepped on. The emperor pressed his hand against his forehead and shook his head.
“Count Roland,” the empress began. “I believe I was speaking to Lady Kristie. Tell me, at what point did I seek your opinion?”
Count Roland had intended to lodge a complaint against Kris’s product by associating even a small possibility of danger with it, but instead he had put himself in danger. It appeared that he’d struck a nerve with the empress—and she’d only gotten started.
“It seems that you do not see the true value hidden within this product,” she lectured him. “To think that such a foolish vassal holds the title of ‘count’... Perhaps His Grace is too lenient when it comes to his vassals.”
The emperor became the collateral damage of Roland’s blunder. Everyone in the audience chamber could tell that the look on His Imperial Majesty’s face said, You’ve really done it this time, you idiot! The emperor tightly gripped the armrest of his throne, his hand shaking, and cleared his throat.
“Yes, I agree. Count Roland, you do not possess any knowledge of cosmetics. Therefore, I believe there is no opinion you can provide on this matter. You shall not interject on this matter. Understood?” The emperor spoke in a low, displeased voice, and he sounded as though he was warning the count.